Tuesday, 31 December 2013

After
a very poor autumn for rarities in Extremadura,
especially compared with the outstanding year of 2012, when between
September and December several species of rare geese were found, a
White-tailed Eagle, a Pallid Harrier, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a
Ruppell`s Vulture and two Buff-breasted Sandpipers. During
the same period in 2013 we have not had much to show…until
the 30th
December 2013, when Fergus Crystal found a Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa
flavipes)
in the rice fields close to the village of Puebla de
Alcollarín(Villar
de Rena, Badajoz). In the same day José Guerra, Marc Gálvez (photos,
see link) and
José Gómez Aparicio were able to watch it as well and suggested it
was an adult; after that the bird flew off and was not relocated.

[NOTE:
the bird was found again on 7th
January 2014by
Martin Kelsey on another rice field at the same area, Puebla de
Alcollarín.
On 8th
January
it was seen by Alberto
Gil at the same site. On 11th
January seen again by
Pablo Prieto, Francisco Montaño, Sergio Mayordomo, César Clemente,
Javier Prieta, Eva Palacios, M. Gálvez, J. Guerra, Antonio Calvo,
Pepe Guisado, Pilar Goñi y Neil Renwick. On 10th February is seen again in the same place by Martin Kelsey]

This
is the second
record of this species in Extremadura.
The first took place 14 years ago: a probable adult seen by Agustín
Mogena on8th
August 1999 at Valdesalor reservoir(Cáceres).

The
Lesser Yellowlegs is a New World
wader that breeds in the Arctic and
Winters from the South of North America to Chile and Argentina.In
mainland Spain there have been 57 accepted records up until 2011.
On one occasion, two birds were together, otherwise all the records
are of single birds.Although
it has been recorded in every month of the year, the peak is clearly
in autumn (September-December), with
a second peak in April-May. It has been recorded throughout the
peninsular, as well as on the Caneries and Balearics, but
mainly innorth-west
Spain. This is a typical pattern
for neartic waders. As far as we know, there were only autumn records
in 2013, from August onwards with five records: Valencia, Navarra, La
Coruña and two in the Algarve (Reservoir
Birds,Rare
Birds in Spain).

The
Government of Extremadura has
published the results of the Black Vulture (also known as Monk or
Cinereous Vulture) (Aegypius
monachus)
census of 2013(see
link),
showing the highest ever known population of 897
breeding pairs.
Furthermore, the breeding success of 806
pairs was monitored, showing that 590 young fledged,
in other wordsa
breeding success of 73%.
The first Black Vulture censuses, albeit only partially completed,
were from 1974, when only 86 pairs were known in the whole region.
With the passing of time, the quality of the censuses has
significantly improved, but there was also a true increase in the
population with the figures in 1990 reaching 404 pairs, in 2000 610
pairs and in 2006 to 829 breeding pairs. Since then the population
has remained, with small fluctuations, between 800 and 900 pairs. One
must take into account that this type of census will always
underestimate the real population, owing to the difficulty of
determining if pairs do breed or because some nests remain undetected
(in order to do a thorough census it is reckoned that 16 visits are
necessary). Notwithstanding these caveats, it is clear that
Extremadura has the most important Black Vulture population in
Europe. For further information about the population,
evolution and distribution of the Black Vulture in Extremaduraread
here

- Egyptian Goose: Six at Los Canchales reservoir (BA) (Toribio Álvarez) and
one at Brovales reservoir, Jerez
de los Caballeros (BA) (Antonio Núñez), on 01/11. Two present on a pool in La Serena (BA) on 09/11 (F.
Montaño and G. Montaño). Two at La Isla pool, Navalvillar de
Pela (BA), 19/11 (Juan Antonio Barquero). Two at Valdecañas reservoir (CC) on 23/11 (Dave
Langlois and Sammy Langlois).

- Ruddy Shelduck: Two at Valdecañas reservoir (CC) on 08/11 (Sergio
Mayordomo) and on 23/11 (D. Langlois and S. Langlois).
Two at Borbollón reservoir (CC) on 16/11 (Goyo Naharro). One at Santa Amalia
rice fields (BA) on 29/11 (Fernando Yuste).

- Common Shelduck: Two at Valdecañas reservoir (CC) on 08/11 (S. Mayordomo)
and one on 10/11 (Javier Briz and Vicente Risco). Seven present at Sierra Brava
reservoir, Zorita (CC), on 13/11 (Martin Kelsey) and two on 24/11 (José Guerra,
Marc Gálvez, Miquel Ángel López and Núria Tarrasón). Two on the Santa Amalia
rice fields (BA) on 22/11 (Ángel Sánchez), three on 23/11 (Á. Sánchez and F.
Yuste) and six on 28/11 (Kelly Renwick, Neil Renwick and William Haworth) and
on 29/11 (F. Yuste).

- Ferruginous
Duck: Four at pool of Los Calles, Toril (CC), on 01/11 (E. Palacios -photo-
and J. G. Aparicio) and on 08/11 (S. Mayordomo),
and five there on 23/11 (Antolín Redondo, Guillermo Rivas and Leandro Rivas).
Three at La Atalaya,
Aldea del Cano (CC), on 10/11 (A. Núñez and V. de Alba) and on 17/11 (Jesús
Solana), still present on 25/11 (Alejandro Puerto) and four there on 28/11 (S.
Mayordomo). One at Corral Alto pool, Zorita (CC), on 30/11 (Pepe Guisado and
Pilar Goñi).

- Northern Bobwhite: Two in stubble
at Montijo (BA) on 15/11 (P. Herrador).

- Black-necked
Grebe: Two at Sierra Brava
reservoir, Zorita (CC), on 10/11 (Antonio Calvo -photo-), on
13/11 and on 22/11 (M. Kelsey), and one there on 24/11 (J. Guerra, M. Gálvez,
M. Á. López and N. Tarrasón). One
at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (BA), on 30/11 (M. Kelsey and S.
Mayordomo).

- Squacco
Heron: Two in rice
fields at El Batán (CC) on 03/11 (S. Mayordomo) and one on 19/11 (C. Clemente).
One seen from Puente Viejo in Badajoz
on 04/11 and 2 el 17/11 (Juan Carlos Paniagua). One in rice fields at Palazuelo
(BA) on 24/11 (M. Á. Muñoz).

- Black Stork: Four on the Canal de las Dehesas (BA/CC)
on 01/11 (José Ángel Sánchez and Luis Salguero), one on 16/11 (A. Calvo), three
on 19/11 (J. A. Barquero) and 11 on 22/11 (Á. Sánchez). One
at Villar de Plasencia (CC) on 05/11 (Ricardo Montero). Two at Fresnedillas, Oliva de Plasencia
(CC) on 11/11 (R. Montero) and four there on 16/11 (Javier Prieta) and also on 24/11
(Jesús Montero). Three at the El Sevillano dam, Puebla de Alcocer (BA), on 12/11
(J. A. Barquero). One at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (BA), on 16/11 (A.
Calvo). One at Jarripa reservoir, Torremocha (CC), on 25/11
(A. Puerto). One at Galisteo (CC) on 27/11 (S. Mayordomo). Two at Dehesa de
Solana, Herrera de Alcántara (CC) on 28/11 (Antonio Galán).

- Glossy Ibis: One at Galisteo (CC) on 01/11 (E.
Palacios and J. G. Aparicio) and three there on 03/11 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). Four at El Batán rice fields (CC) on 01/11
(E. Palacios and J. G. Aparicio) and on 05/11
(R. Montero). Four in a Cattle Egret roost at Valdeobispo lagoon (CC) on 03/11
(J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). Five at Santa
Amalia (BA) on 15/11 (José Antonio Román), on 24/11 (F. Montaño) and on 28/11
(K. Renwick, N. Renwick and W. Haworth).

- Sanderling: One at large lagoon
at La Albuera
(BA) on 23/11 (G. Schreur and P. Schreur).

- Curlew Sandpiper: One at Moral
reservoir, Los Santos de Maimona (BA), on 08/11 (A. Núñez and V. de Alba). Two
on rice fields at Santa Amalia (BA) on 09/11 (F. Montaño and G. Montaño). One
on rice fields between Palazuelo (BA) and Campo Lugar (CC) on 17/11 (M.
Kelsey).

- Jack Snipe: One in irrigation
canal at Galisteo (CC) on 11/11 (J. Guerra y M. Gálvez). One in rice fields at
Riolobos (CC) on 13/11 (S. Mayordomo). Four in rice fields at Palazuelo (BA) on
24/11 (M. Á. Muñoz).

- Woodcock: One at Puebla de Obando (BA) on 15/11 (J. L.
Bautista and P. Herrador)

- Spotted Redshank: One at Charco Salado, Casatejada (CC),
on 08/11 amd another at Lugar Nuevo, Peraleda de la Mata (CC) (S. Mayordomo). Two at Santa Amalia (BA) on 09/11 (F.
Montaño and G. Montaño). One on rice fields between Palazuelo (BA) and Campo
Lugar (CC) on 13/11, 2 on 22/11 (M. Kelsey) and one on 28/11 (K. Renwick, N.
Renwick and W. Haworth). One
at La Jarilla
reservoir (CC) on 16/11 (J. Prieta).

- Yellow-legged Gull: At least four
at Mérida landfill (BA) on 07/11 (M. Gálvez). One at Valdecañas reservoir (CC)
on 08/11 (S. Mayordomo). One at Alange reservoir (BA) on 10/11 (J. Guerra and
M. Gálvez). Two at Badajoz
landfill on16/11 (J. C. Paniagua).

- Stock Dove: 20 at Galisteo (CC)
on 05/11 (R. Montero) and two on 11/11 (J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo). 60 at Vegas Altas (BA) on 15/11 (M.
Kelsey). Two at Riolobos (CC) on 20/11 (S. Mayordomo). Six at Cortijo
de la Concepción,
Retamal de Llerena (BA), on 30/11 (M. Gálvez).

- Ring-necked Parakeet: One seen on
riverside trail, Plasencia (CC) on 03/11 (R. Montero) and on 21/11 (Montaña
Domínguez).

- Monk Parakeet: Four at Parque del Príncipe de Cáceres
on 04/11 (Alberto Gil) and at the municipal hostel on 17/11 (Francisco Javier Caballero).

Thursday, 28 November 2013

Fernando, a Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus
roseus) of French origin seen at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) in March 2013 was over 33 years old,
the oldest wild bird ever recorded Extremadura, according to the SEO-Cáceres/GOCE
database. Photo by Fernando Yuste

This post has been ready
for publication for several weeks. However, just by chance new information
about longevity in birds has been arriving, meaning that we have incorporated
this to make a post a little longer than usual, and hopefully even more interesting.
It is likely that our information is incomplete, representing as it does
recently available information gathered by a small group of enthusiasts. If someone has sightings in Extremadura of
older birds and would like to share their news, we would be delighted to
publish it here. None of this information would have been available at all
without the work of bird ringers and those birders who patiently read the codes
on rings and send the information through. To all of
those, a big thank you.

Ringing does
not only help the study of the movements of birds, but also provides
information of great value about various aspects of biology. How long a bird
can live, in other words its longevity, is one of these. For this we have
searched the modest but growing ringing
database of GOCE in order to determine the
oldest birds that we have seen in Extremadura, and then comparing this with
data published at both a European and global scale, some of which may not be
wholly reliable (Euring, HAGR).

The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus
roseus).Ring Y[HIF].Named "Fernando". A male ringed in the Camargue
(France) on 3rd August 1979 and seen on the rice fields of Santa Amalia
(Badajoz) by Fernando Yuste and Isaac Outón on 17th March 2013, in its 35th calendar
year and 33 years, 7 months and 14 days
since being ringed. It is, by far, the
oldest bird that has been seen in Extremadura, as far as we know. During
its lifetime, it has been seen many times, so many observations in fact that it
could fill four pages of notes. We know that it has bred in its place of origin
in the Camargue(1987, 1991, 1992 and 2009) as well as
in the colony near Malaga
ofFuente de Piedra(1988, 1990, 2002, 2003, 2004 and
2006). It has also been seen in the Ebro Delta, Doñana and the Villacañas
lagoon (Toledo).
It has only been seen once in Extremadura, as recorded above [see video]. Our data also include a record of a female Greater
Flamingo seen at La Albuera
in September 2013 in
its 18th calendar year (José A. Román). Ringing of flamingos started inFrancein 1977 and there are still birds
alive today from that period, with35
years of age, although the maximum age given in Euring is 27 years.
Flamingos are long-lived birds, with birds in captivity easily exceeding 60
years and the author once saw in Almeria a group of five ringed flamingos with
ages of 18, 18, 18, 22 and 23 years.

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia).RingsW[D]
/ W[S]a. This bird was marked as a nestling in Holland on 11th June 1988
and seen at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) by Sergio Mayordomo on 25 September 2012 in its25th calendar year having passed 24
years and 3.5 months since being ringed. It is a male that had lost one of
its rings, as can be seen in the photo, and thus could not be identified
between 1994 and 2002. During its first two years there were sightings in the
United Kingdom (from 12-10 to 18-11-08 and from 26-06 to 20-09-89), Algarve,
Portugal (15 and 19-10-89) and Doñana (8 to 15-03-90), and in Holland on
16-07-90. Afterwards it was seen during several years in Huelva
on autumn migration, once in December and in Holland during the breeding season. The only
sighting in Extremadura is the Portaje Reservoir record. In our region, Spoonbills of 18 and 19 years old have
been seen. We have not found information about the oldest wild Spoonbill in
Europe, but in captivity one reached 30 years and in America other species of spoonbills
have reached 28 years in the wild.

Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Larus fuscus). Ring
B[PC]. Ringed as a nestling in Bristol (UK) on4th July 1989. There were no further records
until October 2013when Marc Gálvez and José Guerra saw it on Mérida refuse tip [readmore]. Therefore it is a bird in its 25th calendar year, having passed 24 years and three
months since being ringed. As can
be seen from the photo, the ring is now in poor condition. The maximum age known
for this species in the world was one of 34 years and 10 months, also from the UK.

Common Crane (Grus
grus).Ring a/NYB.A bird ringed as a juvenile on passage at Gallocanta
(Aragón) in 1988 and seen by Manolo Gómez Calzado in Vegas Altas del Guadiana
(Extremadura) on several occasions since 2003. In January 2009 and
October 2011 it was accompanied by its mate, but without young. It is therefore
a bird of its 24th calendar year and with more than 22 years of age [read
more]. This bird exceeds the record
of the oldest according to Euring for Europe, which cites a Swedish bird of
20 years and three months of age, although both are far from the record achieved
by a bird of the eastern race (lilfordi) which reached 41 years old in
the wild. In Extremadura we have another record of a crane in its 20th
calendar year, hatched in Germany
and seen in Oliva de Plasencia (Javier Prieta).

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus). Ring G[J].Female calledGabriela hatched
in Scotland in 1991 (photo: Roy Dennis), where it has bred since1996, and haswintered, at least since 2000, at
the Gabriel y Galán Reservoir (Cáceres), where it is currently present
(November 2013; Jesús Montero. César Clemente, S. Mayordomo, J. Prieta). It is therefore a bird in its 23th calendar year
and more than 22 years old. This bird perhaps merits its own post, since it
has been tracked for three seasons by satellite, as have one of its mates and
some of its young (all have wintered in Africa).
One of its descendents is also part of an introduction project that has started
in Urdaibai (Vizcaya). The oldest Osprey known is one of 32 years old in North
America and in Europe one of 26 years and 11 months in Finland.

White Stork (Ciconia
ciconia). Ring W[F|FS].Hatched
in a nest in Trujillo (Cáceres), where it was ringed on 6th June 1989, and has
been seen twice nesting in a clump of
pines at Monroy(Cáceres), with records almost twenty
years apart: on 12th April 1992 (I. Ludwichowst) and on 1st April 2010 (Juan
Manuel Domínguez –photo-).Who
knows if it is still there(if
anyone is encouraged to look for it, the colony is beside the Cáceres -Torrejón
el Rubio-Monfragüe road). It was in its 22nd calendar year and 21 years and
10 months since being ringed. It was also seen in January 2002 at a refuse tip
at Cádiz and in January 2003 en the rubbish tip at Dos
Hermanas (Seville).
The oldest ages published for this species are: 39 years for a wild bird in Switzerland and
48 years in captivity. In Extremadura we have two records of birds in their 18th and 16th calendar years.

Black
Stork (Ciconia nigra).Ring W[C|HN]. Here
we are talking about the dearly loved Choni, subject of one of the
most popular posts in this blog [readmore]. Hatched in Oliva de Plasencia (Cáceres) in 1990, it occupied one of
the most visible nests in Monfragüe for 18 years, successfully raising
46 young. It was seen for the last time in the summer of 2011, in its 22nd calendar
year and with more 21 years and 3 months since being ringed, it could be the longest lived Black Stork in
the world. There is a published record of a bird of 18 years and 7 months from Poland and one
of 31 years in captivity. In Extremadura
we have records of a 15-year old bird and one in its 11th calendar year.

The seven cases above are
the only ones citing birds of more than 20 years old in Extremadura. Examples of birds of great age, but less than 20
years old we have the following:

- Great Cormorant(Phalacrocorax
carbo). A 17 year old birdin Badajoz (Ismael Galván). The oldest wild bird
recorded in the world is 27 years old.

- Gull-billed Tern(Gelochelidon
nilotica). In the GOCE database we
only have records of four birds, with ages of 11, 11, 13 and 16 calendar years
(the last has14 years and 10
monthssince ringing;see the blog of Atanasio Fernández). This is a high average, given that the oldest of
this species ever recorded is one of 15 years and 9 months from Denmark.

- Greylag Goose(Anser
anser). Birds of more than 11 and 13 calendar
years (marked as adults) have been seen on the Portaje Reservoir (S. Mayordomo) and Valdesalor Reservoir (Carlos
Fernández). The oldest in captivity in the world was 31 years old, although a wild
Pink-footed Goose has reached 41 years old.

A few days ago news came out about a House
Martin(Delichon urbicum) ringed in Badajoz city in 2005 and found dead in a pellet of a Tawny Owl,
collected just 400 metres
from the site of ringing, eight years later. The site could not have been
any other since Badajoz is where House Martins
have been more closely studied than almost anywhere and it is where more House
Martins have been ringed and controlled than anywhere else in Spain (Florentino
de Lope’s team/UEX; photo by Carlos de la Cruz). This becomes the longest-lived of this species in Spain(there are two cases of seven-year old
birds); although in Sweden
there is a record of 15 years. These are all extraordinary results for a
species which on average will live for just two or three years.

And since we have embarked on this saga,
let’s continue: what are the longest
living birds in the wild? At the global level, there is a female Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria
immutabilis), calledWisdom,
which is still alive and is breeding in Midway (Hawaii,
USA),
where in 2013 she succeeded to raise a young, despite being 62
years old. She was marked in
1953 when five years old. It is said
that other albatrosses have lived longer, but that this has not been confirmed
with marked birds. Thus there is a female Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea
sanfordi) calledGrandma also
believed to be 62
years old, with an estimated age of ten years when ringed in 1937, and seen
for the last time in 1989, 52 years later.

In Europe,
the
longest-lived bird we have come across is a Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) of more than 50 years
and 11 months old(trapped as
an adult). The following is a Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) of more than
45 years and three months, a Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) of more than 43
years and 11 months and an Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) of 43
years and 4 months. As one can see, seabirds, waterfowl and waders can reach
great age, but also raptors (Golden Eagle 32 years, Eagle Owl 27 years) and
even smaller birds like Alpine Swift (26 years) and passerines (Raven 23 years,
Common Starling 23 years).

In captivity, it is difficult to find out about the oldest bird. We have found a
scientific publication on longevity in parrots that cites a Salmon-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis) of no less than
92 years old. There is a Greater Flamingo in a zoo in Adelaide
(Australia)
which is more
than 80 years old, having lived there since 1933, when it arrived as an
adult. In a zoo in Chicago
there is a cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri)
80 years old,
called Cookie, which hatched in 1933.
These figures are a long way short of the 255 years calculated by radiocarbon
dating of a male Aldabran Tortoise(Geochelone gigantea), called Adwaita, captured
in the Seychelles and kept in a zoo in India from 1875 to its death in 2006 (a
life spanning three centuries!!). The longest-lived mammal appears to be a Bowhead
Whale (Balaena mysticetus). In some specimens remains of antique harpoons have
been found which date back to the end of the 19th century suggesting
ages of between 115-130 years. Additional studies based on the eye structure
affirm the possibility that the species could reach 150-200 years old.

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Keeping our promise we can provide yet
another year’s update on the population
of theSpanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) in the Iberian peninsular
and in Extremadura. On this occasion the official
data has been published much earlier than usual and has been covered
extensively in the press.

Overall, it has been yet again another
excellent season for the species, with a new record of 407 pairs in the peninsular (396 inSpain
and 11 inPortugal),
27 more than the previous year, an increase
of 7.5%.

Apart from in Extremadura, where there has been a small decrease of three pairs,
and in Castilla y León, the population of Spanish Imperial Eagle has increased
in all of the other autonomous communities of Spain, especially in Castilla-La
Mancha and in Andalucia. Extremadura continues to be the region with the
slowest increase of Spanish Imperial Eagle, from being second position in 1999
to the penultimate in 2013.
In these 15 years of exhaustive monitoring,
the population has multiplied three-fold across Spain, but only by 1.5 times in
Extremadura. In comparison, in Castilla – La Mancha the population has
risen by more than four times, and around 3.5 times in Castilla y León and
Andalucia. Madrid for its part has doubled its
figures, whilst in Portugal
the population has grown from a single pair in 2003 to 11 pairs ten years
later. Almost certainly, the different trends shown are closely related to the
conservation status of rabbit populations.

- Squacco
Heron: On GuadianaRiver where it passes through Badajoz one seen on 05/10 (SEO-Badajoz) and
another on 31/10 (Juan Carlos Salgado). One at Arrocampo (CC) on 10/10 (Jesús
Sánchez and José Luis Bautista). One at Galisteo lagoon
(CC) on 31/10 (J. Prieta).

- Greater Flamingo: 43 at the large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) on 03/10 (F.
Montaño) and 04/10 (J. A. Román), with 11 remaining by 12/10 (Joaquín Mazón and
Juan Carlos Paniagua) and only four young birds present on l21/10 (F. Montaño
and Joaquín Vázquez) and 23/10 (Andrés Vega, F. Montaño and J. Guerra). Three
of these birds were marked: a 3º female from Doñana, an 8º year female from the
Camargue (France) and an 18-year old female from Fuente de Piedra (Málaga). At
Morante reservoir, Badajoz,
a young bird was present on 06/10 (F. Lopo) and 11/10 (J. L. Bautista), and two
young birds on 17/10 (J. L. Bautista -photo-) and 18/10 (P. Herrador). One
at Los Canchales reservoir on 12/10 (A. Cangas, E. del Viejo, J. G. Aparicio,
J. Guerra, L. Gómez and M. Gálvez).

Goshawk: One seen in Las Hurdes (CC) on 03/10 (A. Pacheco). At Alía (CC) one
seen on 05/10 and another on 06/10 (J. Á. Herrera and N. Baeza). One
at Valverde de Mérida (BA) on 20/10 (J. Guerra and Silvia Domínguez). One at Cubilar reservoir, Logrosán (CC),
on 27/10 (J. Cerezo, J. Á. Herrera and N. Baeza).

- Osprey:
One at Jerte reservoir (CC) and another nearby, along the N-110 road, on 01/10
(J. Prieta). At Los Canchales reservoir (BA), one seen on 02/10 (Ada Kouri and
Carlos González), 03/10 (C. González and Fernando Díez) and 06/10 (D. Huerta,
J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and M. Martínez). One at Alange reservoir (BA) on 08/10 (J. Guerra and
M. Gálvez). One present at Arroyoconejos reservoir, Llerena (BA), on 12/10
(Miguel Corvillo). On GuadianaRiver
where it passes through Badajoz
one seen on 13/10 (J. Mazón) and another on 19/10 (SEO-Badajoz). At Cubilar
reservoir one seen on 18/10 (J. A. Román), 27/10 (J. Cerezo, J. Á. Herrera and N. Baeza) and 30/10 (Juan Pablo Prieto). One
at Gabriel y Galán reservoir (CC) on 28/10 (C. Clemente, J. Montero, J. Prieta
and S. Mayordomo).

- Common
Coot: More than 1,000 at Orellana reservoir (BA) on 16/10 (Á. Sánchez).

- Kentish
Plover: In the rice fields between Palazuelo (BA) and Campo Lugar (CC) 14
seen on 05/10 (J. Muddeman), 56 on 17/10 and 35 on 23/10 (M. Kelsey).

- Red
Knot: At the large lagoon at La
Albuera (BA) one still present on 03/10 (F. Montaño), on
12/10 three were seen (J. Mazón and J. C. Paniagua -photo-), four on
13/10 (Paco Macías) and two on 21/10 (F. Montaño, J. Vázquez and J. C.
Paniagua).

- Curlew
Sandpiper: One at the large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) on 12/10 (J. Mazón and J. C.
Paniagua). Three at Los Canchales reservoir (BA) on 13/10 (José Ángel Sánchez).
One at Alange reservoir (BA) on 16/10 (J. Guerra). One at Morante reservoir, Badajoz, on 18/10 (P.
Herrador).

- Spotted
Redshank: At the large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) four seen on 03/10 (F. Montaño) and
04/10 (J. A. Román), three on 21/10 (F. Montaño, J. Vázquez and J. C. Paniagua)
and one on 23/10 (A. Vega, F. Montaño and J. Guerra). On the rice fields
between Palazuelo (BA) and Campo Lugar (CC) 50 seen on 03/10 (M. Kelsey), more
than 35 on 05/10 (J. Muddeman) and eight on 23/10 (M. Kelsey). On 05/10 one
seen at Torrealba lagoon, Torremocha (CC), and three at Sotillo reservoir,
Monroy (CC), (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). Two at Morante reservoir, Badajoz, on 18/10 (P.
Herrador). 18 seen on the rice fields of Santa Amalia (BA) on 30/10 (F. Yuste).

- Marsh
Sandpiper: Two at the large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) on 18/10 (Francisco José Medina) and
one on 20/10 (F. Montaño and J. Vázquez).

- Wood
Sandpiper: One at the rice fields at Riolobos (CC) on 02/10 (J. Prieta). On
the rice fields between Palazuelo (BA) and Campo Lugar (CC) one on 03/10 (M.
Kelsey), four on 05/10 (J. Muddeman), six on 17/10 and 15 on 23/10 (M. Kelsey).
One at the large lagoon at La
Albuera (BA) on 23/10 (A. Vega, F. Montaño and J. Guerra).

- Yellow-legged
Gull: At Mérida refuse tip (BA) one seen on 07/10 (M. Gálvez), two on 14/10
(J. Guerra and M. Gálvez), one on 16/10 (Á. Sánchez and Ángel Luis Sánchez),
two on 21/10 and six on 24/10 (M. Gálvez). One at Alange reservoir
(BA) on 07/10 (M. Gálvez). Six
seen at Valdecañas reservoir (CC) on 10/10 (Á. Sánchez, J. Guerrero and M.
Flores).At least four present at Badajoz
refuse tip on 19/10 (J. C. Paniagua). One on the rice fields between Palazuelo
(BA) and Campo Lugar (CC) on 23/10 (M. Kelsey).

- Stock
Dove: 11 at El Batán (CC) on 05/10 (R. Montero). At Galisteo (CC) three
seen on 06/10 (A. Pacheco and S. Mayordomo), 16 on 14/10 and two on 27/10 (R.
Montero). 11 birds at Casatejada (CC) on 27/10 (Javier Briz and Vicente Risco).

- Ring-necked
Parakeet: One in the Plaza de España, Mérida (BA) on 10/10 (J. Guerra and
M. Gálvez).

- Wryneck:
One at Plasencia (CC) on 17/10 and another at El Batán (CC) on 27/10 (R.
Montero). At Salvatierra de los Barros (BA) one seen on 27/10 and 28/10 (F.
Montaño).

- Ring Ouzel:
Between two and four birds at Mérida (BA) on 14/10
(J. Guerra and M. Gálvez -photo-). Between two and three were seen being
seen on 15, 16 and 17/10 (Á. Sánchez, Á. L. Sánchez, F. Montaño, Lorenzo
Alcántara and M. Gálvez).

- Iberian
Chiffchaff: On 04/10 one seen at Arrocampo reservoir (CC) (J. Muddeman) and
another at Santa Marta de Magasca (CC) (M. Kelsey). One at Toril (CC) on 16/10
and another at Galisteo (CC) on 31/10 (J. Prieta).

- Common
Crossbill: A group at Ladrillar, Las Hurdes (CC), on 03/10, on the border
with Salamanca
province (A. Pacheco).

FIRST
POST-BREEDING OBSERVATIONS

- Greylag Goose:
On 01/10 a group seen over Plasencia (CC) (Miguel
Ángel Muñoz) and four over Cáceres (GIA-Extremadura). Three birds at Moral
reservoir, Santos de Maimona (BA), on 08/10 (F. Montaño). 49
present at Valdecañas reservoir (CC) on 10/10 (Á. Sánchez, Javier Guerrero and
Manolo Flores).

- Merlin: On 11/10 one
seen at Malpartida de Plasencia (CC) (Andrés Rodríguez), and another at
Torrefresneda (BA) (J. G. Aparicio), a female at Campo Lugar (CC) and another
at Vegas Altas (BA) (Jesús Porras).

-Water
Pipit: Six around the upper plains of the Guadiana
(BA/CC) on 05/10 (J. Muddeman). Two at Jerte reservoir, Casas del Castañar
(CC), on 07/10 (J. Prieta). Two at Galisteo lagoon (CC) in 18/10
(S. Mayordomo).

-Redwing:
At Mérida (BA), one on 14/10 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) and two on 16/10 (F.
Montaño). Two near Trujillo (CC) on 31/10 (M. Kelsey).

- Goldcrest: One at Vegas de Coria
(CC) on 24/10 (A. Pacheco).

- Common Starling: One
at Arrocampo reservoir (CC) on 10/10 (J. Sánchez and J. L. Bautista). One at
Plasencia (CC) on 15/10 (J. Prieta). Two at Alange (BA) on
16/10 (J. Guerra).

- Bullfinch: Two at Valcorchero,
Plasencia (CC), on 16/10 (S. Mayordomo). Two at Valverde de la Vera (CC) on 18/10 (D.
Langlois). Three at Villanueva de la
Vera (CC) on 31/10 (D. Langlois).

- Lesser Kestrel: 12 seen at Santa Marta de Magasca (CC) on 04/10 (M.
Kelsey). One at Coria (CC) on 17/10 (Juan José Chaparro). One at Almendralejo
(BA) on 24/10 (J. A. Román).

- Hobby:
At Villanueva de la Vera
(CC) three seen on 05/10 (D. Langlois and Sammy Langlois) ans just one on 10/10
(D. Langlois). One at Alía (CC) on 06/10 (J. Á. Herrera and N.
Baeza). One at Jerez de los Caballeros (BA) on 07/10 (F. Montaño). One seen at Monfragüe (CC) on 08/10 (John
Muddeman). One at Los Canchales (BA) on 12/10 (F. Lopo, J. G. Aparicio, J.
Guerra, L. Gómez and M. Gálvez). One
at Montehermoso (CC) on 13/10 (C. Clemente and Juan Carlos López Alvar). One
at Navezuelas (CC) on 17/10 (Á. Sánchez).

- White-rumped Swift: On 05/10 one
seen at Monfragüe (CC) (C. Clemente, M. Kelsey and S.
Mayordomo) and another at Alange castle (BA) (D. Huerta, J. Guerra,
M. Gálvez and M. Martínez). Four at Monfragüe castle (CC) on 06/10 (J.
Muddeman). One at Cañamero (CC) on 09/10 (Sergio Pérez Gil).

- Short-toed Lark: One at Campo
Lugar (CC) on 05/10 (J. Muddeman).

- Sand Martin: At Galisteo lagoon
(CC) a group with other hirundines seen on 07/10 (C. Martín, J. Prieta and M.
Á. Muñoz) and another group on 16/10 (S. Mayordomo).

- Barn Swallow: One at Rincón de Ballesteros
(CC) on 25/10 (Francis Martín). One seen at Ventaquemada
reservoir, Guijo de Granadilla (CC), on 26/10 (S. Mayordomo). One at Trujillo
(CC) on 31/10 (M. Kelsey).

- Tawny Pipit: One at Campo Lugar
(CC) on 05/10 (J. Muddeman).

- Tree Pipit: One at Galisteo (CC)
on 06/10 (S. Mayordomo). In the olive groves at Montehermoso, one seen on 07/10
and 09/10 (C. Clemente).

- Yellow
Wagtail: Three at Galisteo lagoon (CC) on 16/10
(S. Mayordomo). Two on rice fields at El Batán (CC) on 20/10 (J. Prieta and R.
Montero). One at Alange reservoir (BA) on 22/10 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

- Rufous Bush Robin: One at Almendralejo
(BA) on días 29/09 and 30/09 (L. Alcántara). One at Montehermoso (CC) on 01/10
(C. Clemente).

- Common Redstart: A female at
Piornal (CC) on 04/10 (J. Prieta). One at Bonhaval stream,
Alange (BA) on 15/10 (M. Gálvez).

- Whinchat: On 20/10 one seen at El
Batán (CC) (J. Prieta and R. Montero) and another at La Serena (BA) (C. Clemente,
Eva Palacios and S. Mayordomo). On 27/10 one seen at La Serena (BA) (Antonio Núñez
and Vanessa de Alba) and another at Talaván (CC) (P. Herrador).

- Whitethroat: On 04/10 one seen at
Piornal (CC) (J. Prieta) and another at Galisteo (CC) (C. Clemente and J.
Mahillo). Three at El Batán (CC) on 05/10 (R. Montero). One
at Alange (BA) on 07/10 (M. Gálvez).

- Garden Warbler: On 03/10 two
trapped for ringing at the Sierra de La Mosca, Cáceres (GIA-Extremadura), and at least
four seen at MatachelRiver, Alange (BA) (M.
Gálvez). One at Alía (CC) on 05/10 (J. Á. Herrera and N.
Baeza). Two at Barquilla de Pinares (CC) on 20/10 (D. Langlois and
S. Langlois).

- Willow
Warbler: At Alange (BA) at least five seen on 15/10 (M. Gálvez) and two on
22/10 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

- Spotted Flycatcher: At Alange
(BA) two seen on 15/10 (M. Gálvez) and another two on 16/10 (J. Guerra). One
at Guijo de Granadilla (CC) on 26/10 (S. Mayordomo).

- Pied Flycatcher: At Alange
(BA) at least three seen on 15/10 (M. Gálvez) and several on 16/10 (J. Guerra).
At least two in Parque de Príncipe, Cáceres, on 23/10 (M. Gálvez).